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Creating the backend for frontend database

Create the backend for frontend (BFF) database using the provided PowerShell script.

Before you begin

  • To complete this task, you need access to a database server machine that runs a supported database version. Database support is the same as for Content Manager.
  • To run PowerShell database scripts for this database, the machine must meet the requirements described in Creating databases for Content Manager security.

About this task

Backend for frontend, or BFF, refers to an architectural pattern that uses a middle layer between the frontend clients and the backend. BFF also refers to the layer itself and each client has a dedicated BFF. A single BFF database is used for the various BFFs.

Procedure

  1. On your database server machine, open a PowerShell prompt.
  2. In the location of your Tridion Docs installation media, navigate to the folder for the type of database you are creating:
    • For a Microsoft SQL Server database: Database\InfoShareBFF\SQLServer\
    • For an Oracle database:Database\InfoShareBFF\Oracle\
  3. For Oracle databases, specify a host, port, service name and other connection information for the PowerShell script, either before or while running the script:
    • Before you run the script, you can define a variable in PowerShell, let's say $MyDatabaseServer, and set it to your connection string. When you invoke the script, you then append the string -DatabaseServer $MyDatabaseServer to the PowerShell command.
    • Alternatively, you can just invoke the script as is, and while you run the script, PowerShell prompts you for a value for Net Service, and you can then enter one of the following:
      • Enter the Net Service Name for this database if you have defined a Net Service Name in a tnsnames.ora file and specified the location of that file in a TNS_ADMIN environment variable.
      • Enter the string %manual% to let the script prompt you for the following: Host name, Port and Service name.
      • Enter the actual connection string directly on a single line if you have more to provide than just a host, port and service name. For example:
        (DESCRIPTION = (ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = myhost)(PORT = 1521))(CONNECT_DATA = (SERVICE_NAME = ora)))
  4. Run the following PowerShell command, following the instructions that appear:
    & '.\Install Infoshare Backend For Frontend database.ps1'
    By completing this step, you have created the backend for frontend database.